Sunday, November 30, 2014

Weekly Newsletter

December 1st – December 5th   
What are we doing this week?
HORN
·          This week in Math we will continue our fluency PowerPoint and learn new strategies for the 10’s and 5’s multiplication facts. J I hope you will join us in encouraging the STRATEGIES at home with the multiplication facts. Be sure to constantly check the blog for updates and pictures! Also ask your student about the strategy for 2’s and 4’s!
·          Additionally in math this week we will begin a new unit “Muffles Truffles.” Students will investigate multiples of ten and learn about remainders. Example: If a box holds ten chocolates each and you’ve got 34 chocolates, how many full boxes can be made? Will there be any leftovers?
·          This week in Science we will continue our human body unit. We will construct models of thumbs and hands and discuss tendons!
WOODS
·          This week we will begin a novel study of the book Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo! As we read, we will practice determining the point of view of the characters throughout the book. We will also use this novel study as an opportunity to practice important writing skills like summarizing and IRSC paragraph writing (Indent, Restate Question, Supporting Evidence, and Closing Sentence)
·          The skill is (ow) and (ou) sound spellings. We are currently on 3 Lesson 2! Don’t forget to take advantage of our spellingcity.com/paine3 site. This website has our lists built into it for the year AND generates interactive games using these words. It is a great tool to utilize for spelling practice!

HOMEWORK
WOODS:
-Reading and Logging: Students must read for 20 minutes each night & log information about their reading on the new reading log!  This log requires them to record the title of the book they read and the pages they’ve read. They will also be asked to indicate whether they understood what they’ve read.
Reading is Thinking:
 Starting this week, students will also be asked to complete a brief paragraph writing assignment that requires them reflect on what they have read.  This assignment will be referred to as “Reading is Thinking” and will be completed weekly!  This is another great way to practice summarizing AND gauge student understanding of what they have read.  
HORN:
Students must complete 30 minutes of Dreambox this week at home. Additional (low amount of problems) homework may be given if the teacher sees the need for practice of a particular skill. Remember Dreambox records time from Sunday to Saturday.
Tests
HORN: Students will have a daily math skills assessment this week. . Students will be assessed on ratio tables from The Big Dinner.

WOODS: Spelling Assessment is on Thursday !

The Week Ahead…
Upcoming Events
Math
·          We will continue Multiplication Unit (Muffles Truffles). Next week in fluency we will focus on the 3’s and 6’s.



  • Coffee with Principal- Dec. 2nd
  • Parent night-Electronic Safety Dec. 4th
·         Alabama Theater Field Trip December 9th





Spelling Words
knowing, shown, growth, arrows, how, town, eyebrow, tomorrow, powder, yellow, pound, thousands, around, house, outside, hours, about, amount, flour, and flower.
Vocabulary  Words
missionary, peculiar, pathological, imitated, complicated, melancholy, exception, identical, roundabout, notion, wheezed, and amuse.
Science
·          Continue Human Body Unit.
Reading
·          Novel Study
Language/Writing
·          Nonfiction Research Project





Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Weekly Newsletter November 17th-21st


November 17th  – November 21st 
What are we doing this week?
HORN
·          This week in Math we will continue our fluency PowerPoint and learn new strategies for the 2’s and 4’s multiplication facts. J I hope you will join us in encouraging the STRATEGIES at home with the multiplication facts. Be sure to constantly check the blog for updates and pictures!
 
 
·          We will also continue our big dinner unit. Students will investigate further with ratio tables and number relationships. They will also investigate a new strategy, the doubling and halving strategy! I WILL BE ABSENT from Wednesday-Friday for a professional development trip in Houston, TX. Students will have a sub and will work on review of work we’ve done thus far in class. Activities will include problem solving, subtraction, rounding, and multi-step problems. Students must do their 30 minutes of Dreambox this week! Remember time is recorded from Sunday to Saturday!
 
·          This week in Science we will continue our human body unit. We are beginning a new section all about our Muscles! Ask your child about building a model leg and learning new vocabulary (ligaments and tendons).
WOODS
·          This week we will continue to sharpen our comprehension skills as we read a variety of nonfiction texts! As we read these texts, we will practice properly taking notes. This is an important skill that students will need for the duration of their academic careers and beyond!
·          We are proceeding with spelling this week. The skill is (oo) sound spellings. We are currently on 3 Lesson 1! Don’t forget to take advantage of our spellingcity.com/paine3 site. This website has our lists built into it for the year AND generates interactive games using these words. It is a great tool to utilize for spelling practice!
 
HOMEWORK
WOODS:
-Reading and Logging: Students must read for 20 minutes each night & log information about their reading on the new reading log!  This log requires them to record the title of the book they read and the pages they’ve read. They will also be asked to indicate whether they understood what they’ve read.
-Nonfiction Research Project:  We are in the midst of an exciting new writing project! Students will be given the opportunity to choose a nonfiction topic to research and become an “expert” on. They will also have the chance to compile their research into an original writing piece that will be used to teach others about the topic they have chosen! Here is what I need from you:  Please make sure has a book on their topic in their nonfiction AR reading range.  Another great resource is an article!
HORN:
Students must complete 30 minutes of Dreambox this week at home. Additional (low amount of problems) homework may be given if the teacher sees the need for practice of a particular skill. Remember Dreambox records time from Sunday to Saturday.
Tests
HORN: Students WILL have a daily math skills assessment this week.
WOODS: Spelling Assessment is on Friday!

Friday, November 14, 2014

Was Your Friday This Awesome?!


Today in Math students investigated patterns with the number 9. Students chose a number and added 9 to it. Then we added the digits of our sums. Ask them about the interesting patterns we found!


 

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

Today in Math we also practiced our multiplication fact fluency. Today we worked on our strategy for the two’s. Our strategy for two’s is to double the answer you got for that fact times one. Example: I know that 6x1=6 so I double 6 to get twelve so 2x6=12. Students also reinforced this strategy of “doubling” by playing a cards game. Here are a few descriptive pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 















In Science today students conducted a fun experiment! We mixed together baking soda, vinegar, popcorn kernels, water, and food coloring to see what would happen! Ask your student about the results! Here is a quick snapshot from that!